Year: 2026

FG Unveils National Roadmap to Strengthen Midwifery, Reduce Maternal Deaths

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Federal Government has rolled out a comprehensive national roadmap aimed at strengthening midwifery services and improving maternal and newborn healthcare outcomes across Nigeria. Speaking at a ministerial press briefing to commemorate the 2026 International Day of the Midwife in Abuja, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, said the government had embarked on deliberate and strategic initiatives to enhance the capacity of midwives and tackle maternal and child mortality nationwide. Represented by the Director of Hospital Services, Dr. Abisola Adegoke, the minister described midwives…

IGP Disu, INEC Chairman Seal Security Pact Ahead of Ekiti, Osun Polls, 2027 Elections

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has sealed a strategic security partnership with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) aimed at ensuring peaceful, credible, and violence-free elections across the country. Disu made the pledge on Wednesday while hosting the INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN), and his delegation at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, where both institutions aligned on a comprehensive roadmap for election security ahead of the Ekiti and Osun off-cycle polls, forthcoming bye-elections, and the 2027 general elections. The high-level meeting, attended by the Force Management…

CDS Tasks Troops on Intensified Offensive Against Terrorism in Southern Kaduna

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Oluyede, has charged troops of the 2 National Mission Force Brigade to intensify their operations against terrorism and other security threats in Southern Kaduna and its environs. The directive was given during an operational visit to the Brigade headquarters in Samaru Kataf, Kaduna State, where the CDS assessed the unit’s combat readiness and operational challenges. General Oluyede stated that the visit was part of ongoing efforts to strengthen military effectiveness in tackling insecurity, including terrorism, kidnapping, cattle rustling and related criminal activities…

Nigeria, US Launch Defence Working Groups to Deepen Security Cooperation

Lukman Laleye Babalola

Nigeria and the United States have formally inaugurated Defence Institutional Technical Working Groups (DITWGs) in Abuja as part of efforts to strengthen bilateral security cooperation under the 2026 Defence Cooperation Roadmap. The initiative is aimed at enhancing joint responses to terrorism, insecurity, and broader regional instability, while improving institutional capacity within Nigeria’s defence architecture. Speaking at the inauguration, head of the United States delegation, Mr. Cate Dave, said the establishment of the working groups would bolster strategic planning and operational effectiveness. He noted that strengthening defence institutions remains critical to…

FCT Police Bust Kidnap Syndicate, Kill Two in Gun Battle, Arrest One

Lukman Laleye Babalola

Operatives of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command have dismantled a six-man kidnapping syndicate operating around Abuja, killing two members and arresting one suspect during a gun battle in the Karshi axis. The operation, carried out on May 3, 2026, followed credible intelligence on the activities of the gang at a hideout located along the FCT–Nasarawa border, according to the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh. She noted that the suspects opened fire on sighting operatives, leading to a fierce exchange. In the ensuing confrontation, the gang leader,…

Nigeria Pushes Stronger Diaspora Engagement at IMRF 2026 in New York

Lukman Laleye Babalola

Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to protecting its citizens abroad while leveraging the economic and intellectual potential of its diaspora, as the country took a leading role at the International Migration Review Forum (IMRF 2026) in New York. The Honourable Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Bernard M. Doro, made this known while co-chairing Roundtable 3 on Diaspora Engagement at the high-level global forum held at the United Nations Headquarters. Speaking during the session, Dr. Doro described Nigeria’s diaspora as a vital partner in national development, citing their…

The Senate Rule Amendment: Power Play or Institutional Reform? An Unbiased Analysis by HallowMace Foundation Africa

Emporium Reporters

In a move that has sent ripples across Nigeria’s political landscape, the Nigerian Senate under the leadership of Senator Godswill Akpabio has amended its Standing Orders to restrict eligibility for presiding and principal offices strictly to lawmakers who have served at least two consecutive terms.   At face value, the amendment appears procedural, perhaps even logical. But beneath the surface lies a deeper political calculation that has triggered sharp reactions, most notably from Senator Adams Oshiomhole.   What Changed and Why It Matters.   The new rule introduces a stricter…

Nigeria, U.S. Seal Stronger Maritime Security Pact

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Nigerian Navy has reinforced its international maritime security collaboration following a high-level visit by a United States Congressional Delegation (CODEL) to the Western Naval Command Headquarters in Lagos. The delegation, led by Mr. Adam Barker, was received by the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Abubakar Mustapha, who reaffirmed the Command’s pivotal role in safeguarding Nigeria’s maritime domain and supporting wider security efforts across the Gulf of Guinea. During the engagement, Rear Admiral Mustapha highlighted the importance of the Regional Maritime Awareness Capability (RMAC), describing it…

Nigerian Navy Hands Over 125 Bags of Smuggled Rice to Customs in Lagos

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Nigerian Navy has handed over 125 bags of seized foreign parboiled rice to the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) following a successful anti-smuggling operation in Lagos State. The handover took place on 5 May 2026 at Naval Base Epe, where officials of the NCS Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘A’ Ikeja, led by Superintendent of Customs Chinedu Eboh, formally received the seized items. The consignment was intercepted on 29 April 2026 at about 3:00 a.m. after naval personnel, acting on credible intelligence, stopped a Peugeot J5 van with registration number…

IGP Disu Convenes Emergency Security Meeting, Unveils Major Police Reforms

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has convened an emergency conference with senior leadership of the Nigeria Police Force, announcing sweeping reforms aimed at strengthening accountability, professionalism, and operational efficiency. The high-level meeting, held on Tuesday at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, brought together members of the Force Management Team, Assistant Inspectors-General of Police, Commissioners of Police, and representatives of the media. It focused on addressing pressing national security challenges and setting strategic directives for police formations nationwide. In his address, Disu stressed the need for transparency, discipline, and…